Lion Fight 40 // From His First Submission Victory To World Muay Thai Champion, How Chip Moraza-Pollard’s Fortunes Have Changed In Three Years

Almost three years to the day current defending Lion Fight Muay Thai Promotions and newly crowned Muay Thai Grand Prix cruiserweight Champion Chip “The Surgeon” Moraza-Pollard (6-0) earned his first mixed martial arts submission victory on January 24th, 2015 for Cage Titans XXIV.

The victory came in his 16th professional bout and was billed as a highly anticipated striking war against Ralph Johnson. A surprise to most in attendance was when the action did not return to the feet once it hit the ground when instead Moraza-Pollard was able to capitalize on the canvas securing a first round rear naked choke with less than :3o seconds remaining in the round. Check out my post fight interview after his lone mma submission victory…

The victory improved Moraza-Pollard’s mma record to 9-7 and in nine months time at CES MMA 31, he was challenging for the promotions vacant welterweight (170 lbs) title. He fell victim to his limited ground game that had often been his kryptonite inside the cage. That would be the last time we would ever see him on AXS TV Fights…as an mma fighter.

Moraza-Pollard retired after that bout from mma with a 10-9 record to pursue his true passion, what he knew he was destined for greatness in, the sport of Muay Thai. Fast forward to June 10th, 2016 at Final Fighting Championship 25 where he would be victorious in his kickboxing debut, winning in the second round by TKO (leg strikes).

(FFC25 Post Fight Interview)

(Lion Fight Debut VLOG)

Now that the first stage to achieving his ultimate combat sports goal, becoming a Muay Thai World Champion was underway, he returned to the AXS TV spotlight on November 18th, 2016 when he made his Lion Fight Promotions debut. In his debut he faced Twenty fight Muay Thai veteran Brett Hlavacek. After an impressive display of skill against Hlavacek, “The Surgeon” was able to improve his record to 2-0 by earning the split decision.

Fast forward to this Saturday January 23rd, 2018 at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Conn., he will be putting up his Lion Fight cruiserweight title and unblemished 6-0 record against another kickboxing and Muay Thai veteran Slava “Scarface” Alexeichik (30-8) as the headliner. It has been a thrilling experience growing along side Moraza-Pollard who on several occasions labeled himself as a “Muay Thai fighter stuck in an mma cage”.

As I cover Lion Fight 40 live from the media section, although outwardly I will stay impartial and carry myself as a professional, internally I will be jumping around and cheering like a fanboy as “The Surgeon” approaches his “operating table” to once again defend his title and improve on his story from struggling mma fighter to international Muay Thai Superstar. Check out my latest interview with Chip days prior to him heading over to London in November when he captured his second world title, The Muay Thai Grand Prix cruiserweight title by unanimous decision over Jordan Smith.

Check out my prefight interview with Chip Moraza-Pollard before he headed out to London for Lion Fight 39 and his second title…

Worldwide Muay Thai leader Lion Fight Promotions has announced the remaining scheduled bouts for its first event of 2018 – Lion Fight 40 slated for Saturday, February 3rd at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Please visit LIONFIGHT.com for news, information and event updates, and follow on Twitter @LIONFIGHT and @LionFightMuayThaiPromotions on Instagram.

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